On Tuesday I wrote a diary about a report from Reuters (via MSNBC) about a study that found that the color red influences sexual attractiveness and posted Governor Palin's press photo in which she is clad in red. I thought the parallel was interesting because I teach and do research in color theory and their respective communicative properties. Yesterday in my classroom, I heard a most interesting, and well-researched analysis of the visual forms that the candidates are using and interpretation of their meaning.
A group of students were presenting their research on the two presidential candidates and their logos. They found that Obama used white a great deal. Students surmised that this symbolized purity and youth.
They also found that Obama's circular logo is symbolic of unity. Then one remarked,"I don't know if he (Obama) realized that."
It was priceless.
McCain color analysis below the fold
The group then evaluated the McCain logo noting that it used a lot of blue and yellow. The star used stood as a symbol of light, like a beacon. Both candidates use a great deal of red and blue so those colors were discussed, but the real kicker came as they evaluated the yellow in the McCain logo.
The speaker said:
...and yellow symbolizes wealth, intelligence, greed, and illness. Which is pretty descriptive of the Republican party.
No one in the room of about forty people disagreed, or even flinched, including me, although I wanted to chuckle. I don't know about the intelligence part, because I see a great deal of campaigning to low information voters, but I agree with the speaker on the rest.
So, look at the shapes and colors used by the campaigns because they are communicating things that you may not have even noticed.